Finally back on Cape Cod this weekend and for $15.99 you get a whole belly clam plate with about 15 clams on it...plus fries, oninion rings, coleslaw. Clam roll was 12.99, but we didn't order it or see it

Happy to report that the Clam Box is as good as ever. There is a $1 - $2 surcharge, depending on size of order, due to high market prices, but worth every penny as I consider the Clam Box to be the standard bearer. The big bellies were outstanding!

I'm in Northeast Ohio and looking for the closest place to get whole belly fried clams. In the past have driven to Lee, Mass., an 8 hour drive to the Salmon Run Fish House, which is very good. Does anyone know of a closer place?

Thanks Michael, but I think they are even further! We drove there once via the PA. turnpike and through NY to Conn. and Mass. and it seemed like it took forever. When we drive up to Buffalo and across 90, it's an easier drive and 8 hours to the Salmon Run Fish House. I was wondering if there wasn't a place somewhere between Wooster and Lee, Mass., or even somewhere in Ohio that would have them. Syracuse? One of the Casinos? But I appreciate your help and will keep it under advisement!

You'e in Wooster? Try I-76 to I-80 across Pennsylvania and New Jersey to the Garden State Parkway, then north to 287 in New York, across the Tappan Zee Bridge to I-95 and up I-95 and the Connecticut shoreline It's not even 650 miles to Old Saybrook from here in the Columbus area via I-71 to I-76 and on to Connecticut..

We did go that way a few years ago when I was going back to my hometown in Mass. It took at least 9-10 hours and I think more with traffic in NY. That's why after my husband goes to Saratoga race track, we head to the Berkshires and Lee to the Salmon Run Fish House. I was just hoping against hope there was some place closer!

used to be a place in buffalo that had whole belly clams called hayes seafood on main st in clarence ny outside of buffalo,had them 2 yrs ago there.you might give them a call and see if they still serve them.

I'm in Northeast Ohio and looking for the closest place to get whole belly fried clams. In the past have driven to Lee, Mass., an 8 hour drive to the Salmon Run Fish House, which is very good. Does anyone know of a closer place?

How about Legal Seafood? There is one in King of Prussia and one in Philadelphia, PA. According to Mapquest it should cut around 2 hours off your trip. Plus you can get a cheesesteak chaser.

Thank you starfire62 and nysharks! I checked both out online and Hayes on their menu had clam strips, I would have to call later on to see if they ever have whole belly. That would be just a 4 hour trip though if they did. Never been to a Legal Seafood, checked their menu online and they do have them in King of Prussia. Put in a mapquest search and it would be 7 hours 12 minutes from where I am. Guess we'll have to start planning a roadtrip! I sure appreciate all the information you guys.

You're welcome. Legal Seafoods fried clams are pricey and very good, but not as good as those in Ipswich, MA and a few other places in the Northeast. But if you have a jonesing for fried clams these will definitely do the trick.

Had some excellent whole bellies at Harry's in Colchester, CT this past weekend. Although not a place one would expect such, I've had theirs about four times and have never been disappointed. At $17.50 for a side order, however, it's an occasional treat. They also make an excellent shake - far superior to the chains such as Friendly's.

Ok, I'm going to display for all my ignorance. What is the difference between whole belly and non? Is it actually the stomach and digestive organs of the clam? To be honest, if that's it, I'm not sure I want it. Or is it a term used for something entirely different that has nothing to do with the so called "belly"?

It refers to the entire clam, as opposed to just the barely edible, tough outer muscle.

Growing up on the shore in Connecticut I never heard the term whole-belly. You had clams or you didn't. And by the way, the first time I ever heard of anything called a whole-belly clam was right here on Roadfood.

OH GAWD...........Jimmies! Was about 23 or 24...spent asummer in NH with a lovely lass.........and ate there way too many times! IF there was heaven on Earth in West Haven, it came with a great fried clam plate ( no reason to specify "strips".....only HOJO's had them then)

Sufferin Downs in sept., Mass Cap? Clam shacks or restaurants are 10min away. Kelly's original location is at Revere Beach. Thev'e got bragging rights, save room for their signature roast beef sandwich. No indoor seating there, so beware of the Gulls. Not very far from there is the Mt. Vernon restaurant. A casual sit down spot with a twin lobster special, unless a bad harvest. Many posting here will send you to other must go to spots, great if you have the time but no decient Roadfooder would pass on a meal at the ones I've mentioned. Chow Jim

So starfire62, I called Hayes Seafood House the other night to ask if they have whole belly fried clams as we would drive the 4 1/2 hours to get them. The lady who answered the phone, Alice, said they did have them but they were so big the customers complained and they stopped serving them. When she heard I would drive that far for them, she got her husbsnd who does the ordering on the phone and he said he would order them! Alice took our name and number, still amazed we would drive that far and said maybe she would get the local TV station here to cover this! Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for letting me know about the place. They were so nice and so accommodating. I'll post again after we go in the next week or two.

Well, we went and OMG, were Ipswich clams ever good! Alice and Bob were so nice, met them both, wonderful people and a really nice place. We had lunch there, clams, loaded baked potato and corn on the cob, $20. The clams about melted in your mouth, so delicately and lightly breaded and fried. They weren't huge whole bellies, but oh so tasty! We decided since it would be a year before we came back, to go back for a late dinner. The place was very busy compared to early afternoon, so we got it to go. The clams were so delicious, wish we lived closer so we could have them more often! Thanks so much for the info starfire62. Missed you by a couple days as we were there Thusday 8/11.

Glad to hear it! I"m off to Europe in a cple of weeks and the only pllace in Philly area that has them is Legal Seafood. Fortunately, they have an operation in the Philly Airport (my wife loves ttheir lobster roll), as well as King of prussia